Interview Expenses

[firefly545]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm new to the forums and had a quick question. I searched and didn't find a thread asking the same question but apologies in case I missed one since I'm new.

 

Anyways, I got an interview invite at one of the schools I applied to. The e-mail said that the grad program will be picking up the cost of the trip (airfare, hotel, meals, etc). Obviously I'm super excited. My question is though...how does that work? The trip will be expensive and since I'm a working student there is no way I can afford to pay it out of pocket, even if they reimburse me. The program advisor told me to let him know as soon as possible if the dates work since "we" need to make travel arrangements. Do you think he meant the dept? Should I ask directly in my response e-mail how the arrangements will be made?

 

Thanks!

[fuzzylogician]

You should just ask. Sometimes (always, in my field) you need to make your own travel arrangements and the department will reimburse you later - usually a few weeks after the trip since they want to see receipts and boarding passes for every expense you're claiming. In other cases (including yours, from the wording of the email you quoted), the department will make the travel arrangements and hotel booking itself, and in that case nothing will come out of your pocket at any point. You should contact the program advisor and ask how the arrangements are going to be made. If they describe the former method rather than the latter, explain your difficulty and ask for help solving the problem.

[firefly545]

Thanks for responding! I responded to the invitation saying I was excited, etc and that the suggested dates worked for me. I just left it at that and figured I'd let them take the lead on the plannig. I was just overthinking that maybe I should be making travel plans especially since its less than 2 weeks away and basically cross-country. I'll wait a few days for their response and then check in...Geez...I'm going to have an ulcer before the application season is over.

[Psychgrrrl]

How did it go?

[firefly545]

Fortunately the school ended up booking the flight and the hotel. They actually took care of all the arrangements. I pretty much just have to show up on time. I have to say the smoothness with which the trip was planned is an encouraging sign given that I'm used to dealing with a profoundly inefficient university bureaucracy....